Robert munn dixon



No. l618,849.

Patented Feb. 7, |899. n. M.' mxnu.

CAR' HEATER.

(Appuceia mea Nov. 11, 189e.)

@wma/oom y 'l mg Hemus PETERS C0.. Mdm-uma., WASHINGTON. n. c.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT MUNN DIXON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SAFETY CAR HEATING AND LIGHTING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-H EATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,849, dated February 7, 1899.

Application filed November l1, 1896. Serial No. 611,692. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/cern:

Beit known that l, ROBERT MUNN DIXON,

of East Orange, in the county of'EsseX, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Heaters,of which the following is a complete specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce Io efficient means for preventing pounding or water-hammering in the Water-circulating pipes of heating apparatus, particularly of car-heaters.

My invention relates to car or other steam r 5 heaters in which a circulating medium is confined within a system of circulatory pipes, wherein it is heated and caused to circulate through the application to the system of circulatory pipes of a heating medium in operazo tive contact with the circulating medium, but excluded from direct communication With it. In car-heaters to which my invention is applicable the heating medium that is brought into contact with the system of circulatory z 5 pipes is steam derived from the train-pipe that communicates with the steam-boiler of a locomotive or othersource of steam.

Heretofore in systems of the class to which my invention belongs waten hammering,

3o pounding, or thumping has been an objectionable feature,especially in connection with those systems in which ythe point of application of heat is remote from the expansiondrum-an element always present in Water- 3 5 circulating systems. The circulation of Water within the circulatory pipes of the system in car-heaters of the class referred to is promoted by the formation of minute bubbles of steam in the water. In a jacket system- 4o that is, a system of which the steam or heating medium is brought into contact with the pipes of the circulatory system through the medium of a steam-jacket-the bubbles of steam are formed in the high end of the jacket.

The rapidity with which the steam-bubbles form in the circulating medium depends in a measure upon the temperature of the steam used in the jackets, and consequently upon the steam-pressure employed, which deter- 5o mines the temperature as Well as the rapidity with which circulation commences and continues. Upon rapidity of circulation depends the length of the time the heating medium and the circulating medium are in operative contact. The objectionable water-hammering referred to is produced by the sudden condensation of the bubbles of steam formed in the circulating medium as it passes through the steam-jacket. Steam-bubbles formed in the jacket passing with the circulating nie- 6o dium become suddenly cooled after leaving the jacket and condensing form a vacuum. The water closing in to ill the vacuum produces the loud report known as watery 1 hammering or pounding 6 Heretofore usually the pressure within the lpipes of the circulatory system, when the system is cool has been substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, while the steam-pressure in the jackets is widely variable, it be- 7c ing necessary that the steam in the jackets should possess sufficient heat to heat and circulate the medium within the system of circulatory pipes. In heating apparatus of the same class prior to my invention it has usually been proposed to maintain a pressure within the pipes of the circulatory system in excess of atmospheric pressure without reference to the steam-pressure within the heating jacket or jackets of the system. Upon the contrary, 8o my invention, broadly considered, consists in the production of a pressure within the watercirculatory system approaching or proportionate to the pressure of the heating-steam supplied to the jackets.

In order to understand the principles upon which my invention is based, let it be considered that the boiling-point of water, which is the usual circulating mediumemployed, is at ordinary atmospheric pressure 212 Fah- 9o renheit, and that the boiling-point-that is to say, the steam-producing point-is raised proportionately by increase of pressure. It is obvious, therefore, that if sufficient pressure Within the circulatory system be maintained proportionately to thepressure-that is to say, the temperature of the heating medium supplied to the steam-jackets-steam.- bubbles which, condensing in the manner above described, produce water-hammering roo cannot be generated within the circulating medium of the circulatory system. The prevention of the formation of these steam-bubbles therein constitutes an eradication of the steam-hammering occasioned by their condensation. This is accomplished without depriving the circulating medium of motive power that depends upon the difference between the specific gravities of the heated and cooler portions of the circulating medium, which,re1nainin g, is ample to promote the necessary circulation through the pipes of the circulatory system.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of a Baker heater and portion of circulating-pipes equipped with my apparatus. Fig. II is a view of the same, taken at right angles to Fig. I. Fig. III is a perspective View of the subject-matter of Fig. I with the Baker heater-stove omitted.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates a Baker heater which although not essential to the operation of my apparatus is nevertheless generally employed as an auxiliary or emergency heaterin car-heating systems in which the individual cars are heated by a local circulatory system in operative contact with a train-pipe or other source of steam supply. Therefore having selected a well-known car-heating system as an illustrative example of the various systems to which my invention is applicable, I deem it proper to exhibit such system in its customary'form of embodiment.

2 indicates a portion of the local circulatory system, as of a car, which includes a heatingcoil within the stove 1. It communicates through a riser 3 with an expansion-drum 4, that communicates also with the local circulatory system through a pipe 5.

6 indicates a pipe of the circulatory system, with which the pipe 5 communicates through the heating-coils of that system. (Not illustrated.)

tion with the source from which it derives its immediately and without noise to the space heat.

a portion of well-known heating apparatus.

As heretofore usually constructed steam from the train-pipe is carried directly to the jacket 7, and the distinctive features of my invention involving a deviation from the ordinary course from this point may be described as follows:

I employ in the present preferred form of j embodiment of my invention a steam-pipe 8, which establishes communication between the usual train-pipe (not illustrated) and a The above-enumerated elements constitute 4 pipe 9, as through an intermediate steam-inlet-regulating valve 10. The pipe 9 communicates, as through a reducing tting 11 or fitting provided With a narrow orifice, with a four-way fitting 12, that communicates With the interior of the jacket 7 and accommodates the passage through it of the pipe 6. The litting 11 is not intended to pass steam to the interior of the fitting 12, but on account of its reduced orifice is adapted for the purpose of draining the pipe 9 and its communicating pipe 13 of the water of condensation which accumulates therein. The pipe 13 communicates with a steam-coil14 within the interior of the drum 4.

1G indicates a pipe communicating at one end with the steam-coil 14 and at the other end with the fitting 12. The pipe 15 preferably passes through a jacket-section 16 of the pipe 3 in passing to the fitting 12 from the coil 14.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: Steam conducted through the pipe 13 to the steam-coil 14 within the drum 4 is employed to heat the water of the local circulatory system near its highest pointnamely, the drum. The drum is a part ot the closed circulatory system, as above specified, and the heat of the steam imparted through the steam-coil 14 to the circulating medium within the drum generates steam within the drum that subjects the circulatory medium throughout the closed system to a pressure proportionate to the steam-pressure within the coil 14. It may be observed here that the heat of steam supplied through the trainpipe to the local circulatory system is proportionate to the steam-pressure and that for that reason the terms which refer to the temperature of the steam supplied through the train-pipe and its pressure may be used interchangeably. The steam supplied from the train-pipe, after passing through the coil 14 and there parting with a portion of its heat, descends through the pipe 15 to the jacket 7, as through the fitting 12, and there comes into operative contact with the Water of the circulatory system to properly heat and circulate it, the pipe 6 of the circulatory system being, in the form of jacket illustrated, incased within the jacket. I prefer to generate steam Within the circulatory system at or near its highest point-namely, Within the drum 4-because steam there generated rises at the top of the drum and there exerts pressure upon the circulating medium Within the circulatory system. Moreover, the steam being first carried through the coil 14'within the drum 4 there comes into contact with the circulatory system at its highest degree of temperature and before its descent to the jacket 7 parts, as above stated, with some of its heat. Consequently if the apparatus is properly constructed, particularly as regards the extent of the coil 14 within the drum 4, the steam after reaching the jacket 7 cannot IOO produce, as against the steam-pressure generated Within the drum 4, steam-bubbles Within the 'medium contained Within the circulatory system.

I employ the fitting 11 in order that the Water of condensation which descends into the pipe 9 from the pipe 13 may be forced through it into the jacket 7 and thence be discharged in the usual manner. Otherwise it would be necessary to lift the Weight of all the' water of condensation to the coil 14, which would occasion an unnecessary Waste of energy.

I prefer to provide the jacket-section 16, incasing a portion of the pipe 15, in order that the heat of the pipe 15 may be enabled thereby to set the Water of the local system into circulation after the Water in the expansion-drum is hot.

"What I claim isy 1. Apparatus for preventing pounding in the closed circulatory system of a heater,

Which consists in means for first applying heat to the medium Within the closed circulatory system to generate steam therein, means Within the system adjacent to the point of generation for confining the steam so generated to produce pressure upon the medium, and means for continuing the heating operation at another point for the purpose or producing circulation of the medium, substantially as set forth.

2. Apparatus for preventing pounding in a closed circulatory system of a heater, which consists in means for applying heat to the medium Within the closed circulatory system near its highest point, to generate steam therein, and for continuing the heating operation at a loWer point, for the purpose of producing circulation of the medium, substantially as set forth.

3. In car-heating apparatus, the combination With a closed circulatory system comprehending an expansion-drum, of a steam-generating coil Within the drum, and al steampipe communicating With the coil and in operative contact with a portion of the circulatory system outside of the drum, substantially as specified.

4. In car-heating apparatus, the combination With a closed circulatory system comprehending an expansion-drum, of a steam-generating coil within the drum, a steam-supply pipe communicating With the coil, a steamjacket inclosing a portion of the local system below the drum, and a pipe connecting the jacket and coil, substantially as specified.

5. In car-heating apparatus, the combination with a closed circulatory system comprehending an expansion-drum, and a heatingjacket, of a steam-generating coil Within the drum, a steam-supply pipe communicating, respectively, With the jacket and coil, anda second pipe connecting the jacket and coil, substantially as set forth.

6. In car-heating apparatus, the combination with a closed circulatory system, comprehending an expansion-drum, and a heatingjacket, of a steam-generating coil within the heating-drum, a steam-supply pipe communicating through separate branches with the coil and jacket, a second pipe connecting the coil and the jacket, and a reducing fitting in the branch of the supply-pipe Which commuljacket, a steam-generating coil Within the drum, a steam-supply pipe communicating with the coil, a portion of the steam-supply pipe and of the circulatory system being in operative contact outside of the drum, a steam-discharge pipe leading from the coil and communicating with the heating-jacket, substantially as specified.

In testimonyof all Which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBERT MUNN DIXON.

Witnesses:

E. W. BULKLEY, F. W. BULLocK. 

